Chapter 67: A Day in the Life of Muramasa (VI)

"Muramasa," Hirata seemed to want to say something, his mouth opening and closing as if the words caught in his throat.

"Hirata, I understand what you mean. In a situation like this, I only wish to survive, nothing more," Luo Hanya lowered his head and spoke softly.

"I'm relieved you think that way, Muramasa," Hirata gave his customary smile. "Ever since this ship emerged, a thick fog has enveloped the area. It seems we can't leave for now. Whether this vessel is a ghost ship or not, I suggest we check the captain's quarters to look for a way to contact the outside world."

"You're right, Hirata. Watanabe, and our young driver, what do you think?" Luo Hanya no longer kept a stern face, his smile gentle as sunlight breaking through ice.

Watanabe had sensed the tension earlier, but now the atmosphere was restored, and he exhaled deeply, raising both hands in agreement.

"Muramasa, I'm not just 'the driver.' My name is Kimura Masakai. Could you please use my name?" Kimura pulled a face, rolling his eyes, making everyone burst into laughter.

"Alright, alright. Kimura Masakai—not just 'the driver,' but Kimura Masakai!" Luo Hanya laughed, patting Kimura on the shoulder. The eerie, haunted ship was suddenly filled with cheerful energy.

"So, what are we waiting for? Sailors, do you still remember our mission?" Watanabe cackled, holding a wooden stick, pointing ahead with the swagger of a pirate captain.

"Let's go!"

"Hahaha, let's conquer this ghost ship!"

"No ghost can stand in our way—we are the rogues who rule the Seven Seas!"

Watanabe sang loudly, entertaining himself as he strode at the front, the others following his lead. Laughter echoed among them; the three men, all past forty, seemed to regain their youth and vigor in that moment.

The four made their way down the stairs, twisting and turning for nearly an hour before finally arriving in front of the captain's quarters.

"Phew, this place is huge—like a labyrinth," Watanabe remained at the front, gazing at the captain's door, feeling the difficulty settle in.

"Enough, Watanabe. Stop your musings and open the door. After all this walking, aren't you curious to see what's inside?" Hirata looked at Watanabe, who loomed before the door like a mountain, exasperated.

"Oh, right, I'll open it now," Watanabe realized his blunder, grinned sheepishly, and rubbed his shining head under the lamp before pushing open the door.

A sharp creak echoed—as if no one had opened the captain's quarters for ages—as Watanabe pushed, the door slowly opening a third of the way.

Kimura poked his head inside, glanced around, and found a light switch behind the door. He pressed it, and a flash of white illuminated the room for a moment before darkness returned.

"Ah!" Kimura seemed to have seen something dreadful, retreating in terror.

"See, it's truly a ghost ship—our youngest is too scared to move," Watanabe laughed, teasing Kimura for his fright.

Hirata and Luo Hanya smiled as they watched Kimura, who was scratching his head in distress. At last, Luo Hanya spoke to ease his embarrassment, "Kimura, what did you see in there to scare you straight out?"

"Why don't you see for yourselves?" Kimura had begun to speak but, seeing Watanabe's gleeful expression, snapped his mouth shut, as if wanting the others to experience the terror themselves.

"Oh? Fascinating," Watanabe shrugged and pushed the door fully open. Under the dim lights from outside, the captain's quarters were revealed: nearly intact wooden tables and chairs, countless scattered papers, and—seated there—a woman with wild hair, a face torn and bloody, her eyes wide open, staring unblinking at the group!

"Is that... Minako?" Luo Hanya was stunned for a moment, uncertainly gazing at the horrific figure.

"Wasn't she supposed to be with Yamamoto? How is she here?" Hirata stared, speechless, at the woman who could be Minako, his voice trembling with shock.

Luo Hanya furrowed his brow, approaching the chair where the woman sat. He gently touched her artery, feeling only coldness. But judging by her attire, it truly was Minako. He drew a deep breath. "Strange—she seems to have been dead for a long time. Her body is utterly cold, but Minako only arrived here a little over an hour ago. It's impossible for her to be like this."

"So you mean this isn't Minako?"

"The clothes and appearance match, but the time of death doesn't. And the face is so disfigured, it likely isn't Minako," Luo Hanya shook his head, examining the surroundings. "There are signs of a struggle here—not just two people. The numbers don't match."

"Thank goodness," Hirata sighed in relief. "Let's hope Yamamoto and Minako both get out alive."

"Let's hope," Luo Hanya replied with a sigh.

"Look here! What is this?" Watanabe, shaken by the corpse, now ignored it and scanned the room, picking up several sheets of paper from the floor. Oddly, each had the same large, scrawled words: "Death! Only death here!" The handwriting was hurried and frantic, as if someone had scribbled them and tossed them aside. "What does this mean?"

"It's strange. Is it saying only the dead are here? But why so many sheets with the same message?" Luo Hanya stroked his chin, puzzled. "The handwriting is nearly identical on all of them!"

"You're right!" Watanabe exclaimed, staring at the nearly identical scripts.

The four fell silent, lost in thought.

Suddenly—"Bang!" A gunshot shattered the silence.

"What was that?" Hirata cried, startled.

"It sounded from the deck above. Are there others here?" Kimura stared at the ceiling, his voice trembling.

"Go! Let's check—it could be Yamamoto and Minako!" Luo Hanya didn't hesitate, leading the charge toward the sound.

The others followed, anxious and urgent, racing up to the next level after Luo Hanya.